Clothes-pounder.



A. W. LENTH.

CLOTHES POUNDER.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 5. 1914,

Patented @1530, 1918.-

UNTTEU @TATEb PATENT @hlt lWE.

AUGUST W. LENTI-I, 0F MONONA, IOWA.

CLOTHES-POUNDER.

Application filed May 5, 1914.

Z '0 all win m if may concern."

Be it known that 1, AUGUST W. LENTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monona, in the county of Clayton and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Founders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved clothes pounder of the kind commonly known as a vacuum hand washing machine, the object of the invention being to provide an improved pounder of this class which is cheap and simple and which is very effective in operation.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of my improved clothes pounder with the parts in normal position and on the up.

stroke.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the position assumed on the down stroke.

A centrally arranged cup 1 which is open at its lower side has a conical upper end 2 provided with openings 3 and secured to the lower end of a handle 4. A diaphragm 5 is in the cup and provided with a central opening 6. A flat valve 7 is on the lower side of the diaphragm and arranged to close the opening 6 on a down stroke and to uncover said opening on an up stroke.

An upper cone 8 has an opening in its apex through which the handle 4 extends. This cone is secured to the handle. A lower cone 9 is arranged between the cup and the upper cone and has an opening in its apex through which the lower portion of the handle extends. The lower cone is vertically movable on the handle and is normally held in a de pressed position and during an up stroke of the pounder by means of a coiled spring 10.

In the operation of the pounder the lower cone moves upwardly during a down stroke Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3@, 1918.

Serial No. 836,576.

and hence forces water from between the cones downwardly and outwardly through the clothes. The valve 7 also closes and hence air is compressed in the cup and water is also forced downwardly through the clothes by the cup. On the up stroke of the pounder the lower cone moves downwardly, creating a partial vacuum above it and causing an uprush of water in the space between the cones. A portion of the air imprisoned between the cones will pass through the slide ing connection of the lower cone on the handle and thence through the openings 3, allowing the valve 7 to be opened by the suction. This prevents clothes from adhering to the cup.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A device of the character described, comprising a handle, a conical member secured thereto at a point spaced from the end thereof, a second conical member slidable upon said handle between the lower end. thereof and said first named conical. member, a spring surrounding said handle between and abuttin against said conical members, a cylindrical shell secured within said second named conical member at approximately the center of its sides and extending below the end thereof; and a plunger secured upon the end of said handle below said second named conical member and comprising a conical sec tion provided with openings and adapted to lie against the inside of said second named conical member when in its normal position, a cylindrical section disposed in said shell and provided with an apertured diaphragm, and a downwardly opening flap valve on said diaphragm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST W. LENTH.

Witnesses:

JOHN KILLEN, W. H. NELINGS.

Copier of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

